Photo:BSS

RAJSHAHI, May 17, 2025 (BSS) - Integrated efforts of all the government and non-government organizations concerned can be the crucial means of protecting boys from sexual abuse and exploitation.

There is also a need to expand services and assistance to protect boys from sexual violence. The community can play vital roles online and offline to attain the desired goal in this field. 

Social watchdogs and development activists made the observation while addressing a consultation meeting with service providers titled "Blue Umbrella Day- April 16: Raising awareness of sexual violence affecting boys" in the city today. 

Blue Umbrella Day, observed annually on April 16th, is an international awareness day that focuses on the issue of sexual violence against boys. The blue umbrella symbolizes protection and safety, representing the need to create a secure environment for boys everywhere. 

Association for Community Development (ACD) hosted the meeting at Hotel Warisan in association with Family for Every Child to mark the day. 

ACD Project Coordinator Subrata Kumar Paul and development activists Abdul Hannan and Mousumi Khatun addressed the meeting disseminating their expertise on the issue.

Child leaders and peer educators Mahia Afroz, Sadia Akter, Mashiur Rahman, Surai Akter, Muhammad Munna and Khadiza Akhter also spoke on the occasion. 

The speakers unanimously viewed that the proactive role of the community can be the effective means of protecting the boys from sexual abuse, assault and all sorts of violence as they are the future driving force of the country.

For the sake of their proper physical and mental development, all sorts of violence and repression against boys must be stopped with integrated efforts of the government and non-government organisations concerned.

The society as a whole should come forward and work together to protect the boys from all sorts of repression and oppression because there is no way but to build them as worthy citizens through flourishing their latent talents, the speakers said. 

Divided into six groups, the participants discussed the issue and put forward a set of recommendations on how to protect boys from sexual abuse.